Teddy Bridgewater announces his retirement: ‘I didn’t do all that rehab to play for the Jets’
(SP) – Free agent NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater announced his retirement today, saying he is not willing to continue his career under the threat of playing for the New York Jets.
« I’ve been working for almost two full years to get back in a position to play, » Bridgewater said today in announcing his decision. “At no point when I imagined what my comeback would be like, I never imagined wearing a friggin’ Jets jersey. I didn’t get out of bed at 5:00 in the morning every day and spend six hours in the gym, pushing through pain and scar tissue, to play for the Jets. No way. I respect myself and what I’ve done more. »
It was reported Tuesday that the Jets were close to signing Bridgewater, but the quarterback scrapped the deal when his agent presented him with final terms.
« I refuse to believe that the New York Jets are the only NFL team that would take me, » Bridgewater said. “But that’s what my agent says. So I’m retiring. I am at peace.”
Bridgewater’s agent, however, is encouraging his client to stay in shape for a better chance down the road.
« I have a verbal agreement with the Cardinals next month when Sam Bradford’s knees catch fire while jogging, » he said.
